"David Jacobs died yesterday at the age of 87, less than a month after leaving his Radio 2 show because of ill health. The broadcaster, who was one of the original Top Of The Pops presenters, had been fighting liver cancer for two years. He also had Parkinson’s disease. Jacobs joined the BBC shortly after the Second World War, and rose to fame as the host of television show Juke Box Jury and Radio 4’s Any Questions? He stood down from his Sunday radio show, The David Jacobs Collection, last month after 16 years. He told listeners he was leaving ‘with sadness’, but added: ‘Rest assured, I will be back from time to time.’ A BBC spokesman said Jacobs died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, said: ‘I’m very sad indeed to hear the news about David. As a young and avid viewer of Jukebox Jury, I remember him every week scoring the hits and misses. ‘And I was still listening to him just last month as he fronted his show The David Jacobs Collection on Radio 2. ‘He was one of the great broadcast personalities, and we shall all miss him tremendously.’ Helen Boaden, controller of BBC Radio, said: ‘From Juke Box Jury to Melodies For You on Radio 2, David’s effortless presenting style belied his consummate professionalism. ‘David was a true broadcasting legend, as well as one of the industry’s best-loved personalities, and he will be sorely missed by his devoted listeners. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family.’ Bob Shennan, controller of BBC Radio 2, said: ‘David was a legend in broadcasting, not only for the Radio 2 audience, but for the whole population. ‘He was a true giant of the BBC, whose career spanned seven decades on radio and television. His broadcast hallmarks were great taste, authority and warmth. ‘I am sure his audience will feel they have lost a friend, as we all do here at Radio 2.’ Jacobs was married three times, first to Patricia Bradlaw in 1949. The couple had three daughters and a son, who died. They divorced in 1972. He married Caroline Munro, who was two decades his junior, in 1975, but she died in a car crash the same year. He married his third wife, Lindsay Stuart-Hutcheson, in 1979. Jacobs was born in Streatham Hill, south London, and left school at 14, performing various odd jobs before joining the Royal Navy. He joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and was posted to Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon. It was at this stage in his life that he had his first experience of broadcasting. He worked in forces broadcasting and produced plays and comedy shows, doing impersonations. Later he was to say about these impressions: 'My commanding officer said they were terrible but, as I introduced them so well, I ought to become an announcer.' After leaving the Navy in 1947, he joined the BBC as a newsreader, but was sacked after giggling at a news item." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2409317/David-Jacobs-dead-host-Pick-Pops-Jukebox-Jury-Any-Questions-dies-aged-87.html#ixzz2dmYiz9T8
